As Crusoe says, for five years he lives the same kind of life every
day. The chief thing he does, aside from his yearly labor of
planting barley and rice and drying gapes, is to build a boat that
will be useful. Once the boat is complete, he digs a canal to it so he
can launch the vessel. His next plan is to sail around the island. He
fits the boat with a mast and sail and readies his provisions.

On November 6, in the sixth year after his arrival on the island,
Crusoe sets out to sea again. The trip is a disaster, for his boat is
carried away by a powerful current. Crusoe faces the prospect of
starving and dying out in the sea. Fortunately, the wind blows
favorably and brings him back to the island. He gives thanks to
God for saving him again and puts aside all further thoughts of
making an escape by boat. Exhausted, Crusoe makes his way to his
bower, where he falls asleep. He is awakened by hearing
somebody call him by name and is terrified. Later, he realizes that
it is his parrot

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Notes

Crusoe has not learned his lesson from the two previous disastrous
attempts with boats on the island. Still wanting to visit the
mainland, Crusoe successfully makes a smaller boat, which he
succeeds in fitting with a sail and launching. His first trip is a
disaster, for a strong current takes him far from shore. It seems
Providence is not ready for Crusoe to escape, but at least the wind
blows him back to the island shore. He immediately things God for
saving him once again.

Defoe seems to suggest that the problem with Crusoe's escape is
not physical, but moral. He is still not ready to return home, for he
has not learned to be content with his station in life.